Despite dropping the deadly double-header of RUINIZER and CUTOFF:SKY on
the world last weekend, and being on the verge of announcing possibly
one of the most lethal debut albums ever, by and large 2014 seems to be
shaping up to be “the year of the second album” on DWA.
With BLAKOPZ’ massive “As Nations Decay” just out of the starting
blocks, and with no fewer than four acts including SURGYN currently
completing follow-up albums for 2014 release, we can today make public
details of the first of 2 more second albums we are already preparing
for release – the new full-length from UK-based outfit CYFERDYNE.
2013 saw a sea-change at CYFERDYNE with the departure of previous
programmer, producer and co-vocalist Niall Robertson and the recruitment
of local Lancaster-based Ritual Noise DJ Andy McBain in his place.
Any doubts anyone might harbor about how this might impact on
CYFERDYNE’s sound should be swiftly and firmly laid to rest by the
assured and powerful production of their exceptional second album “Keep
Your Silence”.
Written by the original line-up including Niall, and recorded and
produced by the new line-up, “Keep Your Silence” demonstrates the depth
of development in both sound and songwriting one would expect from a
second album, straddling the line between satisfying fans of the band’s
debut “Genesys” and those seeking something more.
And “more” it certainly is, in all respects - taking CYFERDYNE into
leaner, cleaner and more polished production territory. More
commercially-accessible, while still retaining measures of the edge and
aggression evident in their earlier material.
A quintessentially British sound reminiscent in parts of MESH or DEPECHE
MODE on tracks like “Numb” and “Weak”, not merely in terms of vocals
but also the plaintive synthpop melodies.
In the more minimal arrangements of “Keep Your Silence” Steven
Houghton’s voice has never sounded more vulnerable nor so authoritative
now that he is singing solo.
Catchy club classics like album-openers “Cables And Codes” (the single
exception to the GARY NUMAN-esque one-word titles of the rest of the
tracklist) and “Jigsaw” with its nods to DETROIT DIESEL here rub
shoulders with the radio-friendly “Numb”, the perfect-pop of “Fracture”
and the epic “Clockwork” – which embraces sonic elements of NINE INCH
NAILS and displays CYFERDYNE’s rockier side, also represented in tracks
like “Glass” and "Escape"…
More melodic and melancholic than “Genesys”, “Keep Your Silence” has an
accomplished and assured feel that belies its status as the sophomore
outing of a young band still creating a signature sound.
With futuristic post-apocalyptic artwork like “Genesys” by DWA’s lead
designer Vlad McNeally, mastering for “Keep Your Silence” was carried
out by million-selling dance music producer Jesse Skeens – who numbers
the likes of JASON NEVINS and SPOOKY among his extensive client list -
at his Medway Studios facility in London.